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Beltran's day off allows Adams to make start at first

3/25/13: Matt Adams sends an RBI double to right field off Mike Pelfrey, putting the Cardinals on the board in the top of the first inning

By Jenifer Langosch
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MLB.com |

PHOENIX -- Manager Mike Matheny has talked repeatedly about his intent to be proactive in giving Carlos Beltran more days off this season, a decision prompted by a desire to ensure sustained health for the right fielder.

Separately, Matheny has noted, too, the importance of positioning Matt Adams to maintain the offensive momentum he gained during a strong spring.

On Wednesday, the Cardinals skipper showed how he can achieve both objectives with one move.

After starting the first two games of the season, Beltran was on the bench for the team's series finale in Arizona. Allen Craig shifted to right field, opening a spot for Adams to slide into the lineup as the team's first baseman. This time, Matheny said, the lineup change had more to do with wanting to get Adams in than it did needing to take Beltran, who is playing with a fractured toe.

"We knew we had to get him in there," Matheny said. "You can't really put a guy on this team, who has that kind of potential and just let him sit and lose everything that he's worked so hard for in the spring."

Adams earned a spot on the Cardinals' Opening Day roster by hitting .288 with five doubles, three homers and 17 RBIs in 26 spring games. The Cardinals saw more value in keeping Adams in the Majors -- even in a spot where he won't get everyday playing time -- than sending him back in Triple-A, where he would be the starting first baseman.

This bench role is a new one to Adams, who, because of injuries to Lance Berkman and Craig, played regularly during his month-long stint with the Cardinals last season. In fact, he took only three pinch-hit at-bats. He was not called upon to pinch-hit in the first two games of this series either, giving Adams an early understanding of how challenging the part-time role can be.

His last at-bat came on Friday in the team's final Grapefruit League game.

"My thing [has been] to watch how the pitchers are going, pay attention to their bullpen to see if there is a righty or lefty getting up," Adams said. "[I'm] making sure I'm stretched and taking my swings in the cage for whenever they need me."